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What is a Psychological Disability?

A psychological disability is a persistent and chronic mental illness that negatively impacts an individual’s life activity, such as learning, educational performance or caring for one self. The mental illness must be documented in the DSM-5 or succeeding equivalent revisions of that publication and must be classified as moderate to severe.

A psychological disability does not include an expected or culturally sanctioned response to a particular event, for example, the death of a loved one. Please keep in mind that an individual with a diagnosis from the DSM-5 does not automatically make someone eligible for psychological disabilities services. Documented impairment in an individual’s life activities is necessary to qualify for services. If you believe you qualify, please contact the Psychological Disabilities Program for further assistance.

Who is Eligible for Services?

Students with a documented psychological disability can apply to the program. Students will be asked to provide verification of their diagnosis prior to receiving accommodations. Eligibility for accommodations and services is made by the Psychological Disabilities Program professional staff, consistent with State and Federal law and California Community College policy. Program professionals reserve the right to request supplemental information to verify a student’s current functional limitations. Please schedule an appointment to obtain further information regarding eligibility for the program and accommodations.

The student must provide written verification of his/her psychological disability from a qualified health professional.

The student has a functional limitation in the educational setting that can be addressed with DSPS support services.

How do I enroll in the Psychological Disabilities Program?

Call (714) 564-6264 or(714) 564-6295 to schedule an intake appointment with a DSPS Specialist. This appointment is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours long. You can bring completed forms to this appointment.

Complete the top portion of the Verification formand give it to your mental health provider or health professional. The form must be submitted to us in order to receive services and accommodations.

We will schedule an appointment with a program professional to review your responsibilities, discuss your goals, educational contract, strengths and weaknesses and identify accommodations that will assist you during your time in Santa Ana College.

We will orient you to the steps for enrolling in the college, getting started such as registering for classes, taking entry exams, applying for financial aid and choosing and registering for classes.

Above are links to forms that you can print and complete prior to your first appointment. Remember to bring these forms to your first appointment to expedite the process. Completion of the forms is not necessary for you to schedule and attend your first appointment.

New & Potential Students to Santa Ana College

Individuals who are interested in enrolling at Santa Ana College and think will be eligible for the program are encouraged to contact us and schedule an appointment. Assistance with enrolling into the college, applying for financial aid and on-line registration will be provided if needed prior to the beginning of each semester.

Upon determining eligibility for the program, specific suggestions regarding appropriate accommodations and course load will be made. The accommodations that are provided to students are based on the student’s unique needs and the courses that the student is registered for during a particular term. Some accommodations that may be provided through the psychological disabilities program are the following: extended time on examinations, administration of exams in distraction reduced settings, permission to tape record lectures, and priority registration. In addition, students who are eligible for the program will have a contact person to check in with about academic progress each semester as needed.

Students in the Psychological Disabilities Program are culturally diverse students with various life experiences and histories. Therefore, the Psychological Disabilities Program strives to meet the needs of the evolving Santa Ana Community College population in order to support educational and career attainment. We encourage students to stay connected to the program and participate in the services we offer as an additional support. We attempt to create an environment that feels safe to ask for assistance and provide feedback about how we can improve the program.

Please note, that when students meet with a program professional, students may be advised to take a reduced course load or may be given suggestions about courses to register for based on an assessment of the student’s history in academic settings, established goal(s), and current level of functioning.

You are welcome to bring a parent, partner, or family member to your appointment.

Please feel free to schedule an appointment to obtain more information about the program or to inquire about your eligibility.

What if I do not have a current verification of a psychological disability?

In order for us to establish that you are eligible for the Psychological Disabilities Program we need documentation from a qualified health professional (i.e., psychologist, psychiatrist, neurologist or other mental health providers) stating your psychological disability and severity. However, if you do not have a current mental health provider or medical professional, we can also provide referrals to a mental health professional in the community to determine whether you have a psychological disability.

In addition, we can sometimes use documentation from previous schools, colleges, clinics or hospitals to establish whether you qualify for the program. However, the document must clearly state the diagnosis, severity of your condition and the name of the professional that provided the diagnosis.